Battle of Anegawa

The Battle of Anegawa occurred on 30 July 1570 in Omi Province, Japan during the Sengoku period. The allied Oda-Tokugawa armies defeated the allied Azai-Asakura army along the Ane River in Omi Province, forcing the shattered Azai-Asakura forces to retreat to Odani Castle, the site of their final destruction. The defeats of the Azai and Asakura enabled Nobunaga Oda to capture Kyoto and become the most powerful lord in the land.

In 1570, following the Siege of Kanegasaki, Nobunaga invaded Omi Province, the domain of his brother-in-law and rival Nagamasa Azai, who had chosen the side of Nobunaga's enemy Yoshikage Asakura over that of his own brother-in-law. The combined armies of Nobunaga Oda and his vassal Ieyasu Tokugawa numbered some 28,000 troops, while the Azai-Asakura army numbered 18,000. The two armies met along the Ane River in Omi Province.

As the Oda force attacked on the right flank of the Azai-Asakura army, the Tokugawa attacked on the left flank, with the Tokugawa supporting the Oda clan's main assault. The warrior Keiji Maeda earned Nobunaga's praise during the battle, and the Azai-Asakura generals Naoyori Shinjo, Naofusa Higuchi, and Sadayuki Atsuji were dispatched to defeat him. These generals were also defeated, and the Oda-Tokugawa armies proceeded to advance on the main camps of the two generals. The Tokugawa advanced on the Asakura main camp, while the Oda advanced on the Azai main camp. Nagamasa had his wife Oichi withdraw after she was defeated outside of his main camp, and Nagamasa himself was forced to retreat after Keiji Maeda routed him and slew several of his men. Meanwhile, Yoshikage insulted Nagamasa for being useless, and also laughed at Ieyasu Tokugawa's "country rabble" as they advanced on his camp. Keiji Maeda, who sought glory for himself, advanced to the Asakura main camp before any other allied units could do so. He proceeded to defeat Yoshikage, who wistfully lamented that his family had been noble since time immemorial, and that the world was doomed. Nobunaga's victory forced the shattered Azai-Asakura army to withdraw to Odani Castle, where they were destroyed shortly after.